A group of Savannah-area ministers on Monday turned over the fruits of fundraising that will help victims of two disasters, one local and one global.

With other involved ministers gathered around him, the Rev. James Nelson, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, presented a check for $3,065 to Tammy Mixon, executive director of the Wesley Community Centers, to assist victims' families from the Feb. 7, 2008, Imperial Sugar explosion. Fourteen died and dozens of other workers were severely burned or injured.

The second check for $1,200 went to the Rev. Belizaire Joseph, a Haitian native who is pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Bloomingdale.

Mixon will coordinate providing checks to the families, some of whom need help paying utility bills, buying school uniforms and medication or fulfilling other household needs. That help will come, she said, "as soon as the check clears."

The Rev. Bennie Mitchell Jr., social action chairman for the ministerial alliance and senior pastor of Connor's Temple Baptist Church, called the Imperial explosion an accident that never should have happened. The money was raised during two church programs, including one, "Remembrance ... Lest We Forget," held at St. Philip AME Church on the second anniversary of the blast.

"If they had followed the rules, there wouldn't be any hurt families or people burned," Mitchell said of Imperial. "We're trying to remind the community, to keep their memory alive and to show that folks do care."

Mitchell's son, Bernie Mitchell III, produced a nine-minute documentary that aired during the anniversary event. In it, several family members of victims talked about how difficult it has been to get past the loss of their loved ones.

One injured employee, whom the younger Mitchell identified as Derek Bing, accused Imperial of not taking care of him and other injured workers.

"Nobody wants to come to our aid. They're trying to push us up out the door and sweep us under the rug because we're a problem now," he said in the video. "They make it seem like it's our fault for being there that night, like they're the victims."

Steve Behm, spokesman for Imperial Sugar, countered that Imperial has provided workers' compensation benefits, health and disability benefits and direct donations to employees and families. Imperial most recently created a program to assist with child-care needs and college tuition, he said.

A Savannah attorney representing 12 families who had workers hurt or killed in the blast said workers' compensation only provides about 40 percent of previous pay.

"I know a lot of these folks have pressing needs," said Brent Savage.

The alliance, the elder Mitchell said, will continue to accept donations on behalf of Imperial victims and for Haiti relief.

The donation to Haiti is important assistance, especially because it comes as the rainy season is about to begin, Joseph said.

"I will make sure this will be disbursed to those who have lost their homes and have nothing to eat," he said. "It will be well spent."

IMPERIAL VICTIMS VIDEOSome of the victims and family members of the 2008 Imperial Sugar explosion shared what their lives have been like since the blast. It can be viewed on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=sGbx8lsKsJo (or Sugar Refinery BRIM.)